Right lighting can elevate your space. Handcrafted lamps based on centuries old craft of leather puppetry can add an artistic touch to your decor.
Tholu bommalata is the traditional shadow puppet theatre art from the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerela in India with roots dating back to 3rd century BCE. Its performers were part of a group of wandering entertainers and peddlers who pass through villages during the course of a year and offer to sing ballads based on mythological stories.(1)
According to the literature, the use of these puppets dates back to 200 B.C. under the dynasty of Satavahana. The literal meaning of expression is “dance of leather puppets” ; “atta”, meaning dance, and “Tholu means leather and Bommalu means puppets”. (2)
Shadow puppetry of Nimmalakunta region is a living folk tradition, combining performing as well as visual arts, and is renowned for its distinct cultural expression of storytelling and entertainment. It is performed by the members of the nomadic Charma Chitrakaar (leather artists) community. The diverse skills and techniques of puppet craft, singing, performing traditional plays, craft-specific tool making, manipulation of many puppets at a time to create animation, creative use of light to form silhouettes and the use of traditional musical instruments reflect the indigenous knowledge of this nomadic community that constantly evolved in response to the changing environment.(3)
The puppets have many articulations and so the legs, arms, head and sometimes even the waist moves. Backstage, balanced on a wooden plank, the puppeteer dances along with his puppet, setting the rhythm and enabling the puppet’s legs to move without actually touching them(4)
This traditional visual and performing art has lost its sheen with advent of television and cinema.
However, artists are still there who are trying to keep the art alive by transforming puppets to these Decorative accents like lamps, Paintings and wall-hangings. Puppets are also made and with efforts of many government agencies and NGOs, performance also goes on.
- 1. Tholu bommalata
- 2. Dyes of a Shadow Theatre: Investigating Tholu Bommalu Indian Puppets through a Highly Sensitive Multi-Spectroscopic Approach
- 3. INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE FOR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES: REFLECTIONS ON THE FOLKLORIC FORMS OF TEYYAM AND TOLU BOMMALATA
- 4. THE MANY FORMS OF INDIAN SHADOW PUPPETRY
